Considering a 5.9 EFI swap into 68 Val -833 O/D car
Hey All,
So I've always wanted to build a big block A body. I've had my 68 Val 273, 904, 7.25 axle, factory A/C for some time now and just enjoyed tooling around with it. Recently I got my 8.75 axle, 833 O/D trans and all the parts needed for the swap (save for sb bellhousing which I am working on right now). I have also got just about everything for my 73-76 disc brake upgrade, sway bar, .995 torsion bars, etc. So I am going to get the rear, trans and front end squared away with the existing 273 engine and drive it until I can get together everything needed for the engine swap.
So then I start reading about Magnum EFI swaps.............................:D
I have driven a Magnum truck for 15 years now. I bought my 2000 Ram brand new and now it has 240K on it! While the stock trans leaves something to be desired, I have liked the engine (a 5.2) very much. A bit anemic as I had the "death flash" done to it, but reliable and drivable.
Add the fact that I have a spare 5.9 Magnum (99 vintage I think) sitting on a stand in the carport. I was going to put it in the Ram but the poor ol' ram is rusting out pretty bad and I am just thinking to buy a new-ish truck in the future.
This car will be street driven 95% or more of the time. I do want to do some auto-x with it and maybe a track day once in a while at our local road race course (Summit Point WV)
With that in mind I am thinking torque, torque, torque. And I'd really like to be SOLIDLY in the 375 to 400 HP range. I am keeping the A/C too.
Questions are these:
-Can a stock, reflashed PCM handle the duties of controlling a 375-400 horse motor effectively and efficiently? (thinking to go the "Hotwire" harness route)
-What would I have to do to my stock 5.9 motor to get it there? Would cam, headers, injectors and throttle body get it there? Or would I have to get into the mill and raise compression via pistons/stroker/decking, etc.?
Thanks for any thoughts from those of you who have done it!
CE